Addressing the crowd gathered on Hollywood Boulevard, Laurie said: "This is not a fair world. I'm 57 now and I've lived a life of extraordinary good fortune from start to finish, so much so I'm anticipating a piano falling on my head to redress the balance. I've been incredibly lucky.

"I'm going to bask in this extraordinary honour and my extraordinary good luck and I'll set to work first thing tomorrow on the global unfairness problem."

Paying tribute to Laurie, Fry said: "We come here to epicentre of the entertainment capital of the world, the very eye of the galaxy, where it is tradition in this marvellous town to reward stars by bringing them right down to earth - so far down to earth now Hugh will spend eternity having chewing gum and dog poo trodden into him, and very likely worse.

"While he may not be the first wise and kind star to be set in a paving slab in old Hollywood, I venture to suggest no star was ever wiser or kinder.

"I can say like Doctor Watson of his friend Holmes, the kindest and wisest friend I ever knew."

(PA)

Laurie, 57, is known to millions of American television viewers for his lead role in the medical drama series House, which he starred in from 2004 to 2012.

He became TV's highest paid actor during his time with the show and won consecutive Golden Globes in 2006 and 2007 for his portrayal of tough-talking doctor Gregory House.

Laurie, from Oxford, had already achieved fame in the UK following his successful comedy double act with Fry and his roles on television series including Blackadder and Jeeves And Wooster.

(Anthony Devlin/PA)

More recently he starred opposite Tom Hiddleston in the BBC drama The Night Manager. He is playing another doctor, forensic neuropsychiatrist Dr Eldon Chance, in the new US drama series Chance, which is being shown on streaming service Hulu.
Laurie's star is number 2,593 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

It was unveiled in front of the Pig n' Whistle British pub, alongside the stars of fellow famous Britons including Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Sir Ridley Scott and Dame Helen Mirren.

A donation of 30,000 dollars (£24,500) to the Hollywood Historic Trust is required to receive a star on the Walk of Fame. The money is used to install the star and for the maintenance of the landmark.